Donald Trump promised to release individuals imprisoned for participating in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol as one of his initial actions if he is reelected, referring to them as “hostages.”
The rioters — encouraged by the then-president and driven by his false claims of voter fraud — invaded the headquarters of US democracy on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop the transfer of power to Joe Biden.
As of the latest Justice Department data released last week, approximately 1,358 defendants have been charged in the 38 months since then. Roughly 500 have been given prison sentences.
Trump made these statements on his Truth Social platform, also committing to closing the border with Mexico as part of his initial actions if he is reelected, but not providing specifics.
“As your next President, my initial actions will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and release the January 6 Hostages who are unjustly imprisoned!” he wrote on Monday night.
Trump has previously discussed his hypothetical first day in office, promising during a televised town hall in December not to act like a dictator except on “day one.”
This is not the first time Trump has referred to his imprisoned supporters as “hostages” or suggested that they should be set free.
In January, he urged President Biden to “release the J6 hostages, Joe” during a campaign rally in Iowa.
Trump is currently facing four criminal indictments, including two — one federal and one in Georgia — resulting from his efforts to overturn the election results after losing to Biden.
Now that his last remaining rival, Nikki Haley, dropped out of the race following his dominant victories in the primaries, Trump is almost certain to be the Republican presidential nominee.
Trump maintains that his support among the Republican base has actually been strengthened, not weakened, by his numerous legal troubles.
